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1.31.2013

"The European Commission has proposed that member states restrict the use of certain classes of pesticide that are believed to be harmful to bees.""Three pesticides would be affected -clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam. Farmers would be banned from using them with sunflowers, oilseed rape, cotton and maize.

Commission spokesman Frederic Vincent told BBC News the measure was based on the latest scientific advice.

"We have requested a proper scientific assessment of neonicotinoids from Efsa. They came up with some concerns, some kind of worrying assessment. So now we are saying to members we have some scientific evidence that there are some concerns from those pesticides and the effects they might have on bees," he said.

The Commission wants restrictions in place by July and the measures will be reviewed after two years. There are already bans in place in France, Germany and Slovenia."

I did find some remnants of the "Count of Minty- Crisco" sweet grease pattis that I had placed last year as mite repellants. the exterior of the hive at the top of the telescoping covers were also still lubricated from where I sprayed last year to keep the beetles away.

So I did not loose these to the winter, which is a great relief.

They are greatly reduced in numbers,

and so I took out some of the burr comb and

cleaned up the propolis and left them with a tiny powdered sugar bath

The newly rescued cat, was on hand to help. That is a bee on the bridge of his nose in between his eyes.

1.20.2013

Queen bees Sing- It is called "Piping" - I guess because they sound like they are tooting their own horns!
Here are three videos that you can play to hear what newly hatched virgin queens sound like.
The young Bee Queens do this right after they hatch out and before mating with the drones.
If you can sound like a queen. you can catch her and the whole hive!! since she will seek out the older queen to destroy her!Listen! Then listen to the Crumbhorns and Pipes played below...

Here is one on the comb

If I could play a crumbhorn, I might could catch a Queen and her ladies!

1.04.2013

Domestic honeybees, Apis mellifera, have olfactory senses capable of detecting
specific volatile organic compounds (VOC) in air at levels as low as parts per billion
(ppb). This ability can be harnessed as a biological sensor to detect VOC’s of particular interest, as has traditionally been done with specially-trained dogs. Unlike
dogs, however, the honeybee can be trained to respond to a particular scent
within hours, is inexpensive to reproduce and maintain, and may be harnessed to
operate autonomously.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) began working with
domestic honeybees in 2006 to detect explosive materials and narcotics. The
honeybees, harnessed in a cassette, are trained to extend their proboscis in the
presence of the VOC of interest; this physical response is then detected by electronics monitoring the “bee cassette,” and the operator is alerted to presence of
the material. "

1.01.2013

Both Love and Grace's Hives have been very quiet this Winterwith the exception of seeing bees foraging on the camellias.After much cold and freezing weather, a warming trendbrought out the bees, they circled in front of the hives I assume in cleaning flights, while a very few foraged onward.

Hive activity- with cleansing flights after many days of cold weather,a warming trend and rain in the forecast, the hive is very active as the sun rises